Martinsburg gazette. (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1886-1887, 1887-02-18
A PRESIDENTIAL VETO.
THE DEPENDENT PENSION BILL RE-
TURNED TO CONGRESS-.
President CleYeland's Reasons for With
holding His Signature.

President Cleveland has vetoed the De
pendent Pensions bill In long message Il
Congress giving his reasons for withholding
his signature. The President, after an
nouncing his return Of the measure withou
his approval, goes on to say:
This Is the first general bill that has beer
sanctioned BY the Congress since the close o
the late Civil War, permitting q pension i
the soldiers and sailors who served iii tina
war upon the ground Of service and pres
emit disability alone, and In the entire
absence OF any injuries received By
tne casualties or incidents of such
service. While by almost constant
legislation since the close Of this war there
has been compensation awarded for every
possible injury received as result of mill
tary service in the Union Army, and while
great number of laws passed for that pur-
pose have been administered with great lib
crafty and have been supplemented by nu-
merous private acts to reach special cases
there has not, until now, been an
avowed departure from the prin-
ciple thus far adhered to respecting Unior
soldiers that the bounty Of the government
IN the way of pensions is generously bestowed
when granted to those who in this military
service, and in the line of military duty
have, TO e greater or less extent, beer
disabled. But it is mistake to suppose
that service pensions, such as are Permit
ted by the second section Of the bill under
consideration, are new to our legislation
For the year ending June 80, 1887, $75. 600.
600 have been appropriated for the payment
OF pensions, and the amount expended FOL
that purpose from 1851 to July i, 1885, il
$S0S,624, Sl1.51.
while annually paying out such q vas,
sum for pensions already granted, it is now
proposed by the bill under consideration, to
award service pension to the soldiers of all
wars in which the United States has been en-.
gagged, including, of course, the War of the
Rebellion, and to paw those entitled to the
benefits Of the act the sum Of twelve dollars
per month. Solar as it relates to the soldiers
of the late civil war, the bounty it affords
them is given thirteen years earlier than il
has been furnished to the soldiers of any
other war, and before large majority Of its
beneficiaries have advanced in age beyond
the strength and vigor. of the prime Of life
II exacts only military or naval service oil
three months, without any requirement oil
actual engagement with an enemy in bat
tie, and without q subsection to any Of the
actual dangers of war The pension il
awards is allowed to enlisted men who have
not suffered the least injury, disability, loss
or damage Of any kind, Incurred in or in any
degree referable to their military service. IN
all, and those discharged from rendezvous al
the close of the war. il discharged three
months after enlistment Undof -CiIe- ms
call OF the President for troops, in December
1864, Al BOB men were furnished who were
thus discharged"
the language of the bill, says:
Upon careful consideration Of the Ian.
guage OF the section Of this bill above given
it seems to me to be SO uncertain and liable
to such conflicting constructions and to be
subject to such unjust and misch!evous ap
plication, as to alone furnish sufficient
ground Tor disappearing the proposed legis
lation. Persons seeking to obtain the pen
sion provided by this section must be now o.
hereafter suffering from mental or physica
disability
THE disability Of applicants must be suct
as to in, apacitate them for the performance
OF labor in such degree as to render them
unable to earn support It will be OBJ
served that there is no limitation or definition
Of the incapacitating injury or ailment itself
II need only be slch degree of disability
from any cause as renders the claim
ant unable to earn q support by labor. Il
seems TO me. that the support here mem
toned as one which cannot be earned is q
complete and entire support, with no dininu.
ton on account OF the least Impairment Of
physical or mental condition. III it had been
intended to embra only those who by dis.
ease or injury were totally unable to labor,
it would have been very easy to express that
idea, instead of recognizing, as is done, q
degree OF such inability.
What Is supportl Who is to determine
whether man earns it, or has it. or has il
not! Is the Government to enter the homes
OF claimants for pension and after examina
ton OF their surroundings and circumstances
settle those questions! Shall the Govern.
ment say to one man that his manner OF
subsistence BY his earnings is q support, and
to another that the things his earnings fur.
nlsh are not support? Any attempt,
however honest, to administer this law in
such manner would necessarily produce
more unfairness and un, ust discrimination
and give more scope for partisan partiality